The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-08-11
Death of Capt. E. l.. Curtis.

accident which befell Capt. E. l.. Curtis
by the railroad wreck near Gre enWood, on
the 4th, and afterwards, on Sun day morn
ing. of his death, as the result, caused a
profound feeling of concern in Ems COM
munity. He was brought to fhe Hale
House, which is located near the depot OF
the Newport News and Mississi ppl val
ley railroad on the morning OF tfie oth'
His condition was such as to make 1t I'M
advisable to remove him to his l9te resi-
dence. some distance from the hot Ell. Ills
wife and son were summoned to his size
and as soon as it was known that ne nae
been brought here, numerous friends ane
acuuaintanceS called to learn the extern
of his injuries and to offer their services
a competent and experienced nurse, MI
w. H. Wilgoss, was at once engaged, lnte
whose charge the suffering patlell1 was
committed, and under the direction OF the
physicians, and the constant presence OF
his devoted wife and son, everything was
done that it was possible TO do, to alleviate
pain and provide for the wants OF the ul
conscious man. stricken down III the nae
ridian of his strength and manhood. From
the first the physician in charge. DIR. u
III. Getzendanner. and the consulting phy-
sicians, Drs. A. M. Henkle and j. "A.
Hanger, entertained very little hope OF d
favorable turn in the case. 1t was evldenl
that the brain had been severely lmpll-
Gated in the injuries, as from the time OF
the accident to his death, there was not
the least evidence manifested OF con-
seriousness. He fingered in this condition
until Sunday morning, the 18th, at Ii
o'clock, when death closed the sad and al
fecting scene.
Capt. E. l.. Curtis came to Virginia
from New Y ork with his wife, in the year
1858 OF 1854, and located at Dayton. III
Rockingham county, where he taught
school. He remained there for several
wears when he removed to the vicinity of
Mt. Scion, continuing in the occupation
of teaching. He was thus engaged when
| war between the States was declared. and
although N Northern man by birth and ed
ucatiOn. he was one of the first to organ
| ize company Of volunteers and tender
them to the State. This company formed
a part of the Fifth Virginia Regiment OF
Volunteers, part OF the historic "Stone-
| wall Brigade" with WHICH he served dur
ing the entire war, participating in all the
battles in which that Brigade was engaged
AZ al nc 10 or
commanders. Capt. Curtis was calm. cool
and thoughtful under all circumstances,
and especially in the conflict OF battle and
III the excitement of the field. He was
brave without rashness, and courageous
| without affecting the heroic. and at all
times faithful in the discharge of duty and
true to every trust confided to him. He
served until the close of the war as COM
! mandant of his company, and returned to
his home when hostilities were closed to
resume the peaceful pursuits Of loyal
and true citizen of the Commonwealth
AS soon as the public mind became settled
| and the practical things of life engaged
the attention of the people, he resumed
teaching, and continued in that field
Of usefulness until appointed to position
1 in the Internal Revenue service. under
President Arthur's administration. The
duties OF this position he faithfully and
efficiently discharged until q change of adj
ministration. After relinGuishing this Of
| fee, he was placed in charge of a prepare
tory Normal School for colored youths, the
funds for the support OF which were fur
nished by his sister, Madame Demorest. of
| New York. The session of 1867 closed
the last of June, after which he made his
preparations to visit his aged mother re-
siding at Saratoga, N. Y, and other rela-
tives in New York State. He had just
| started on this filial journey, when death,
sudden and terrible, interposed, and COM
manded him to meet the Great Father of
us all at the bar of infinite justice and
mercy.
Capt. Curtis was in the VIRGINIAN Of
fice-where he was in the habit Of spend
ing an hour almost every day in reading
the current news and conversing Oh living
/ topics-a short time before the appointed
hour for the arrival of the train that was
to bear him to his native State. He was
looking remarkably well, SO much so that
it caused complimentary remark from
this writer and an inquiry as to his age.
He said he had never been in better
health, and that he felt as vigorous and
active as at any time in his life, although
he was in his 63d year. He was to have
4 met his sister, Madame Demorest. in
] New York city at O'Clock on the morn
ing of the 9Th. who YES to Join him on his
visit to their mother. On that morning,
however, telegram was sent her, inform
ing her Of his serious injury. She had left
New York for Saratoga at the appointed
time, and the message was repeated to her
at Saratoga. On it's receipt she instantly
started for Staunton, and reached here on
l Sunday night about IL o'clock, thirteen
hours after tfe death Of her brother.
| A post moIem examination by the at
tending physicians revealed the fact that
the skull had been fractured in several
places, in addition to the surface wounds
of the head and several severe bruises on
the body. The condition OF the body made
it necessary to prepare for its interment
as soon as practicable, and on Monday at
10 o'clock, the remains, under the charge
! of the Masonic Fraternity, Of which he
was an ilonored member, preceded by the
Stonewall Brigade Band and accompanied
by large concourse of sympathiaing cit
liens and friends, were conveyed to the M.
E. Church, where Rev. W.Q. Hullihen, of
Trinity Episcopal Church, read the impress
| siye burial service of that church and thence
were talEen to Thornrose Cemetery, where
the ceremonies of the Church and the Ma
sonic Order were observed and the body
laid to rest-W. B. McChesney. Worshsp.
full Master, reading the Masonic services,
and E. M. Cushing, chaplain, closing with
prayer.
The active pall-bearers were E. A.
Fulcher, J. M. Yates. J. NJ, Lickliter, and
J. E. Hutchens, representing the Mason
ic Fraternity, and Heber Ker. s. M. Y ost,
1 John A, Noon and James H. Smith, the
citizens.
Thus has passed away q good and true
mann Oldest and retiring vet possessing